Page 32 of I'd Never Date my Best Friend's Brother

We pull up to a red light, and he places his hand on my shoulder. He gives me one of his intense looks. “I’ve always thought of you as a brother, Jamie. Marrying Jessica means we actually will be.”

His words make my heart clench. I am so grateful that my sister is marrying my best friend, but I also feel like I’m losing him.

As if creepily reading my mind, he responds, “You’re not losing a best friend; you’re gaining a brother.”

“How do all of you do that?” My eyebrows shoot up. A horn honks behind us, and my lips lift at the corners. “Green light.”

“All of who?” Sean asks as he pulls into the parking lot of our local shop. Sorry, what I should say is Sean’s favorite shop in Willow Falls. They love it when he’s home and has a project.

“You, Evie, and Liam. You all seem able to see what’s going on in someone’s head.”

He shrugs, and the engine's hum is silenced. “Try being their siblings; it’s annoying.”

I meet him at his side of the car and slap him on the shoulder. “Not much different than being a close friend of the family. Trust me, I know!”

We both laugh. Bells announce our arrival.

“Back here,” Stephanie shouts from the back of the store.

We make our way toward her, and I groan when I see the two piles of clothes waiting for us.

“Hey Sean, Jamie.” Stephanie smiles at us and throws a shirt and a pair of pants onto the pile. “I looked through everything we have and grabbed the items you suggested, Sean and in the sizes you told me.”

Sean rubs his hands together, and a gleeful smile crosses his face. They both look at me expectantly, and I feel my shoulders sag.

“Let’s see what we have.” Sean walks over to the piles and starts sorting them into two additional piles. The ‘yes’ and the ‘no’ piles.

We’re going to be here for a long time. I sigh and head over to the chair by the fitting room. I lean against the back of the chair, close my eyes, and wait to be told what to do next.

We walk out of the shop, and I think that maybe Sean knows what he’s doing. That wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, and I’m actually happy with the new clothes he picked out. He has a really good eye for people and clothes.

“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” Sean asks as if reading my mind again.

“Nope.” I pop the p and slam the car door.

“You had fun! Admit it.” Sean looks over at me as he puts the key in the ignition.

I press my lips together to contain a smile that wants to break through. Sean laughs at me and pushes me with his hand. “I knew it!”

His phone rings, and he puts it on speaker.

“Hey, babe.” His voice softens as he talks to my sister. “Are you there?”

“I’m pulling into the parking lot now.” Jessica’s voice fills the car. “Where are you?”

“We’re just leaving the shop and will be there in a few minutes.”

“Soooooo, how are you feeling, Jamie?”

The smile I’ve been holding back breaks through. “I’m good, Jess.”

“Great!” I can hear her clapping her hands together. It will take me a while to get used to this happy Jessica, but it doesn’t look like she’s going anywhere. “Wait until after your haircut.”

A frown creases my brow as I run my hand through my hair. There isn’t that much to begin with. What are they thinking of doing?

“Don’t worry. Julio won’t be doing anything crazy.” I stare at the phone, my eyes wide.

Great! Is my sister going to be able to read my thoughts, too?

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